Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Walkthrough & Strategy Guide

Published: Jan 4, 2003

Basics

New Game Select this mode to play the main game
"Sons of Liberty". Players can choose to play the entire game, or a specific
chapter (Tanker and Plant respectively). Difficulty modes range from Very Easy
to Hard (more challenging difficulty levels will become available after
unlocking specific conditions in the game).

Load GameThis mode is only applicable to retrieve a
previously saved game.

OptionsConfigure various settings including, but not
limited to the game controls, sound effect/music volume level, captions, and
radar type.

Special

Basic Actions -

If this is the first experience
with Metal Gear Solid 2, and you're not the type to read - select Basic
Actions to view non-interactive video clips demonstrating how to use in
respective situations.

Previous Story - A
ten-page document entitled "In the Darkness of Shadow Moses: The Official
Truth", a fictional article based on the events of the original Metal Gear
Solid adventure. Great for newcomers who've never played the original title
and contains plenty of spoiler, yet informative material.

Photo Album - Another novelty feature used in conjunction with the digital camera
supplied to you in the "Sons of Liberty" game. Bears no special significance
other than the fact it's a great novelty feature for players looking to
preserve any unique photographs taken throughout their adventures.

VR MissionsFor those who couldn't
get enough of the first VR mission game aptly named "Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions", Substance introduces an all
new generation of challenging missions. 500 to be exact, players must complete a
variety of objectives which will challenge their aptitude of stealth,
perception, marksmanship, and more. The following is a description of each of
the sub-categories available...

Sneaking Mode

: Divided into two sub-categories:
Sneaking and Eliminate All. Each consists of 10 levels respectively; you must
complete each level within the allotted time frame before advancing to the
next mission.

Weapon Mode: Think you
have the skills of a marksman? The Weapon Mode consists of 5 levels
respectively for each weapon ranging from the standard handgun to Raiden's
High Frequency Blade.

First Person Mode: Ever
wanted to experience what it was like to play the game as a first-person
shooter. Now you can. The FPV Mode consists of 10 levels. The controls will
take some adjustment, but the general gameplay and challenge remains intact.
Once you've completed all of the listed levels, players will gain access to
the Variety Mode. Initially, players can only choose between Snake and Raiden
respectively for the VR and Alternative Missions. The parameters for each
character vary accordingly (i.e. location of bombs, patrol patterns of
soldiers, etc.) As you unlock additional characters, you'll notice the
missions will become increasingly challenging.

Variety Mode: A special mode which becomes accessible after
successfully completing all of the game modes outlined above. The Variety Mode
contains a unique set of challenges which include avoiding 50-foot soldiers.
Yikes.

Alternative MissionsThe Alternative Missions consist
of four game modes in total. Bomb Disposal, Eliminate All, Hold Up and
Photograph Mode (accessible only after completing a specific completion
rate).

Once you've achieved a 50 percent completion rate,
additional characters (essentially different versions of Snake and Raiden) will
become available for play. Although the level design is relatively similar,
various parameters have been altered to offer a more distinct and challenging
experience. Once you've completed a preset percentage rate, additional modes
will become accessible. A detailed description of each game mode is outlined in
the latter portion of this guide.